Refrigerating apparatus



March 17, 1942. ERLAflD AF EN 2,276,947

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS v 5 SheetsL-Sheet 1 v Filed May 9, 1939 BY v/x aw March 17, 1942. N. ERLAND AF KLEEN 2,276,947 I REFRIGERATING APPARATU$ Filed May 9, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIVEMOR BY 1 anonmryg March 17, 1942. N. ERLAND AF KLEEN 2,276,947

REFRIGERAI'ING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invmnon M4; EFL/2ND flF/(LEEA ATTORNEYS March 17, 1942.

N. ERLAND AF KLEEN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 9; 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY v m/25km Am oRms March 17, 1942. 1 N, ERLAND AF KLEEN 2,276,947

REFR IGERAT I NG APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1939 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY 91% deem ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 17, 1942 Nils Erland af Kleen, Stockholm, Sweden Application May 9, 1939, Serial No. 27259954 In Sweden October 1, 1938 Claims. (01. 62-5) The present invention relates to an absorption or adsorption refrigerating apparatus of -the type which consists of two or more intermittently functioning units, each comprising, besides a circulation system for the refrigerating medium (primary system), a circulation system for a secondary medium (secondary system) which is in heat-exchanging relation with the boiler-absorber of the primary system and which cools the boilerabsorber during the absorbing period. In this specification the expressions "absorption and absorber" as applied to a unit are to be understood to imply also adsorption and adsorber."

In order, with such an apparatus to bring about a simple transition from generating to absorbing and conversely and a favourable operation of the system as a whole, each secondary system is provided in accordance with the invention with a valve which controls the circulation of the secondary cooling medium and both the said valve and the main heat supply to the boiler-absorber are controlled by a common switching device, the arrangement being such that the said valve is closed when the main heat supply to the boiler is turned on and is open when the said main heat supply is turned 01?.

Further features characteristic of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two practical forms of construction of apparatus according to the invention shown in the accompanying illustrative and diagrammatic drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagrammatic, showing a plurality of intermittently functioning units embodying the invention and showing two separate cooling systems;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the common switching device shown in Figure 1, and in the position of shutting oii both the inlet from the collector tank and the outlet to the absorber;

Figure 3 is a plan view, diagrammatically shown, of an alternative form of the invention, with one condenser and one cooling tank in the secondary system in connection with two boiler absorbers, this drawing also showing at the lower side thereof an indirect heating system;

Figure 4 shows a modified form of the invention, showing a different form of heat regulation;

Figure 5 is a plan view in diagrammatic form of another embodiment of the invention, the two secondary cooling systems being joined by one common condenser; and

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly in diagrammatic form, whichshows an invention of substantially the same embodiment as Figure 5 but with the cooling installations of the secondary cooling system indicated with the condenser in such a manner that both circuits will have the same pressure throughout the working operation.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

The refrigerating apparatus exemplified in Figure 1 consists of two similar units which function intermittently and alternately so as to produce continuous refrigeration in a vessel 2. Each unit comprises a system (primary system) contain-.

ing a refrigerating medium of its own which systern consists of a boiler-absorber 4 or t, a condenser G or 6 and an evaporator fitted in vessel 2. The boiler -absorber comprises troughs 8, charged with a dry salt such as, for example,

strontium chloride or any other substance capable main supply system. In the boiler-absorber 4 there is also arranged a jacket I! which, together with a flow pipe I, condenser l6, collector tank It and return pipes 20' and 22, form a closed cir- 'culation system (secondary system) for the secondary cooling'medium. The collector tank is positioned at a higher level than the jacket II.

The same features characterise the boiler-absorber 4' in the other unit. The secondary coola ing medium, the function of which is to produce a speedy cooling-down of the boiler-absorber afterthe refrigerating medium has been expelled therefrom by heat, must have a low boiling point and a high latent heat value.

For the purpose of regulating the functioning periods of the various parts of the apparatus, provision is made, according to the invention, for a common control device located inside the casing 24. This device consists of a rocking mechanism having a snap action and comprising a rocking arm 28 pivoted at 26. One end of this arm carries a bridge 30 that is electrically connected with one pole of the current-source l I and carries two contacts 32 and 34. In the position shown in the drawings the contact 32 bears against a'contact 35 so that the heater I0 is supplied with current. By an anticlockwise rocking movement of the arm 28, however, the contact 32 is separated from the contact 36 and the contact 34 is brought into engagement with housing 48. The lower end of the arm 28 is of spherical form and projects into an excision in a sliding valve member 44, the conically'shaped extremities of which cooperate with seats 48, 48 in the valve housing. In the position shown the connection between the pipes 28 and 22 is closed while the connection between pipes 28' and 22' is I open. In the other position of the rocking mech- 'anism these conditions are reversed.

In order positively to avoid any leakage of the cooling medium from the valve, the latter may be of the construction shown in Figure 2 wherein the valve member 44 controls both the entry of the cooling medium into the valve casing from the pipes 28 and 28 and also the escape thereof from the valve casing to the pipes 22 and 22.

This arrangement also shuts on connection between the two secondary systems.

For the purpose of actuating the arm 28, use is made 01' a thermostat device which consists of the two bellows 58, 88 which are connected .by tubes with the phials 54, 54' fitted in the boilerabsorbers. These phials are filled with, for example, a volatile liquid which vaporises when the boiler-absorbers are heated and exerts a pressure on the thrust rods 58, 58' connected with the bellows. These rods are secured by links through the projecting lugs 58, 58 to an arm 82 pivotally mounted at 88. To the arm 28 there is pivotally secured at 84 a further arm 88. A spiral spring 88 is tensioned between the free ends of the arms 82 and 88.

In the position of the parts as shown, the arm 28 has just snapped over into the position shown. The heater I8 is connected to the current source and the unit to the left is thus at the beginning of its generating phase. The unit to the right is in its absorption phase and is engaged in .prO- ducing cold in vessel 2. The valve 48 is open and the secondary system of the right-hand unit is engaged in cooling down the boiler-absorber 4' by the absorption of heat by evaporation of the cooling medium in the jacket I2. The vapour generated in the jacket I2 is condensed in the condenser I8 and returned through the tank I8 and return pipes 28' and 22' to the jacket I 2'. In proportion as the temperature rises in the boiler 4 and falls in boiler 4', the pressure of the bellows 58 gradually rises and finally overbalances the pressure of the .bellows 88, thus causing arm 82 to be deflected to the right. When the arm 88 and spring 88 pass the dead centre position, the arm 82 moves rapidly over into its extreme right position. The spring 88 then causes the arm 28 to move instantaneously over to its opposite extreme position whereby, on the one hand, the heater I8 is disconnected and storer I8 is switched in, while, on the other hand the valve 48 is closed and the valve 48 opened. The cooling medium in tank 18 then flows into the jacket I2 and produces a rapid cooling down of same, with the result that absorption phase of the left hand refrigerating unit commences.

In the right-hand unit, on the other hand, the secondary cooling medium is expelled from the jacket I2 by the heat of the heater I8 and is condensed in th condenser I8 and collected in the tank I8, the closed valve 44 preventing the return of this liquid to the jacket I2 so that the latter is soon emptied.

The apparatus diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3 is similar in its essential details to the apparatus just described and its constitution will be at once obvious from a comparison with Figure 1. The two secondary systems are here, however, coupled in cascade and provided with a common condenser I8 and acommon collector tank I8. Instead of a jacket, there is seen here a tubular coil I2, I2 in boiler-absorber 4 or 4 respectively through which the secondary cooling medium flows. The heat supply to the boilerabsorber is here fed indirectly from a common heat source consisting of a steam boiler continuously heated by the heater 88. A liquid of ap propriate composition, contained therein, is thereby vapourised and is convected alternately to one'or the other of two vessels 84, 84' which are connected with the boilers by eillcient heat conducting means. The vessels 84 and 84' are heated by the condensation therein of vapour delivered from the boiler 82. The supply of heat is controlled by a valve member 88 which is operated by a switch arm 28 and which always shuts oil! the steam supply to that boiler, the

secondary system of which is out of operation.

In view of the fact that the two valve systems are integrally constructed, precautions must be taken to prevent heat from being conducted from the common heat source to the boiler absorber which is in its absorption phase. The partition wall 88 in the common valve switch-over system is therefore constructed of heat insulating material while, further, insulating, corrugated tubular members 88, 88' are inserted in the pipes leading to the vessels 84, 84.

The construction shown in Figure 3 may, for the purposes of the heating system, be modified in the manner exemplified in Figure 4 by providing separate return pipes 92, 82' fitted from between the vessels 84, 84 to the steam boiler 82. The steam (vapour) and the condensate may thereby circulate in a circuit route instead of proceeding, in opposite directions, through one and the same pipe as is the case in Figure 3.

The constructional form exemplified in Figure 3 may also, under certain conditions, be modified so as to possess, as in Figure 1, a separate heat source and a separate secondary system. For its eflective performance, the invention is independent of the method whereby the boilers are heated, and this may be eflected by electricity, by burners, or, inter alia, by waste gases or the like. Where the common heat source consists of and takes the form of a burner, it may be constructed with freedom to switch-over (oscillate) so as to heat up the one or the other of the boilers alternately.

In Figure 5 there is shown still another form of construction for the cooling apparatus according to the invention. The secondary systems are, in this case, completely separated from each other and separate valves 84, 84' are employed so that leakage from the-one system to the other is positively excluded. The valve bodies 98, 88' are actuated by means of a common rod 88 that is sealed in the valve housings by the bellows I88, I88 and which with the aid of an appropriate switch-over rod 28 equipped with snap action, can be shifted from the one extreme position to the other. In spite of the fact that the secondary systems are entirely independent of each other it is possible, as shown, to combine the condensers into a single condenser I 6 consisting of two parallel extending pipes having common cooling flanges.

As in the case of Figure 1, th heating is effected electrically. If use is made of the method The clear space in the secondary system which is not occupied by the cooling medium contains a gas, such as nitrogen that is a poor conductor of heat. During the expelling periods, when the nitrogen gas fills the cooling jacket, the radiation of heat from the boiler is prevented which will, further, increase the efficiency.

Modifications in the constructional forms shown are possible in other directions also. Thus, instead of a mechanical actuation of the valves, they may be actuated indirectly from the changeover system by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or other transmission functioning with or without retardation. It is possible, also, to dispense with valves at one or several positions and make use of water dams, that is, to stop up the pipes by a column of mercury, or oil or the like.

stat but from any device that is sensitive to pressure and fitted in any arbitrary position in'the apparatus or may be derived from a time-switch.

Figure 6 of the drawings shows an arrange- The motive impulses required to change the coupling may be derived, not from a thermowill also be delivered into the tank l8 whence it will flow into the Jacket I2, so .that in the initial stage of the cooling period of the boilerabsorber l the whole of the cooling liquid available will be delivered to the jacket I2 thus hastening the preliminary cooling of th boiler-absorber 4'. The cooling medium delivered through the pipe II and condensed in the condenser Iiwill not all be returned to the jacket I2, how ever," since the tank I8 must be filled to the level of the pipe I8 before any liquid can return to the jacket I2. Thus a proportion of th liquid will be trapped in the tank I8 during the initial stages of the absorbing period and will be held out of circulation during the later stages. This is a substantial advantage because the cooling system requires a comparatively large quantity of liquid to effect rapid cooling of the boilerabsorber in the initial stages but operates more efliciently with a comparatively small quantity of liquid *in circulation during the later stages when the temperature difierence between the boiler-absorber 4 and condenser I6 falls to a comparatively small value. c

The particular refrigerating medium which is preferred in the use of the apparatus embodying the present invention is ammonia (NI-I3) in the primary system, and methylchloride (CHaCl) in the secondary system. In the place of methylchlorlde, therecan be used butane, pentane or the like.

, It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described are crossed over so that the pipe I4 leading from the cooling jacket of the boiler-absorber 4 delivers into the collector tank I8 whilst the pipe ll leading from the cooling jacket of the boilerabsorber l delivers into the collector tank I8. In addition the collector tanks I8 and I8 are connected together by means of a pipe I8 which opens into the collector tanks at points above the level of the bottoms thereof. As the result of this arrangement a proportion of the liquid evaporated in the cooling jacket I2 or I2 of the boiler-absorber 6 or i at the beginning of the absorbing period is trapped in the collector tank I8 or iii of the secondary circuit belonging to the other unit so that only a part of the total liquid available circulates in the secondary system during the later part of the absorbing period.

As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings the boiler-absorber l is in the later part of its ab sorbing period and a continuous circulation of cooling fluid is taking place in the secondary system shown on the left hand side of the drawings by evaporation in the jacket I2, condensation in the condenser I8, overflow from the tank- I8' to the tank I8 and return through the pipes ZII'and 22 to the cooling jacket.

At the end of the absorbing period of the unit shown on the left hand side, the valve 96 will embodiments of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modiiications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A refrigerator of the type described, comprising a plurality of intermittently functioning units, each unit including a boiler absorber, a condenser, and an evaporator coupled together to form a primary circuit for a refrigerant,

.' means for supplying heat to the boiler absorber rality of members including separate elements in heat exchanging relationship with respective boiler absorbers, condensing means, condensate collecting means, and pipe connections coupling said plurality of members together, said condensate collecting means being arranged at a higher level than. said separate elements, valve means for controlling the circulation of the cooling medium to respective units, said valve means being interposed between said condensate collecting means and said separate elements so that a portion of the liquid cooling medium in said secondary circuit means is stored in said collecting means when the circulation of cooling medium to one unit is stopped by the closure of said valve means, and a common switching device controlling the supply of heat to respective boiler absorbers and selectively actuating said valve means to control the circulation of cooling medium to respective units, said switching device being operable to stop the circulation of cooling medium to each unit at the same time as it starts the supply of heat to the boiler absorber of that unit.

2. A refrigerator of the type described, comprising a plurality of intermittently functioning units, each unit including a boiler absorber, a

condenser, and an evaporator coupled together to form a primary circuit for a refrigerant, each unit having a secondary cooling system including a cooling vesselin heat exchanging relationship with the boiler absorber, a condenser, a condensate collecting tank, and pipe connections permitting cooling medium to circulate through said secondary system, said condensate collecting tank being arranged at a higher level than said cooling vessel, a control valve located between each of said collector tanks and said cooling vesin one of said collecting tanks when the circulation in the respective secondary cooling system is stopped by the closure of the corresponding control valve, and a common switching device controlling a supply of heat to respective boiler absorbers and controlling also said valves, said switching device being operable to stop the circulation of cooling medium to each unit at the same time as it starts the supply of heat to the boiler absorber of that unit.

3. A refrigerator of the type described, comprising a plurality of intermittently functioning units, each unit including a boiler absorber, a condenser, and an evaporator coupled together to form a primary circuit for a refrigerant, a plurality of members forming secondary circuit means for a cooling medium to cool the boiler absorber of each unit, said plurality of members including separate coils in heat exchanging rela tionship with respective boiler absorbers, condenser means, a condensate collecting tank, and

' pipe connections coupling said plurality of members together to permit circulation of said cooling medium, said condensate collecting tank being arranged at a higher level than said coils, valve means for selectively controlling the circulation of the cooling medium to respective units, said valve means being interposed in said pipe connections between said condensate collecting tank and said coils so that a portion of the liquid cooling medium in said secondary circuit means is stored in said collecting tank when the circulation of cooling medium to one unit is stopped by closure of said valve means, and a common switch device controlling the supply of heat to respective boiler absorbers and actuating also said valve means to control circulation of cooling medium to said units, said switching-device being operable to, stop the circulation of cooling medium to each unit at the same time as it starts the supply of heat to the boiler absorber of that unit.

4. A refrigerator of the type described, comsels so that the liquid cooling medium is stored prising a plurality of intermittently functioning units, each unit including a boiler absorber, a condenser, and an evaporator coupled together to form a primary circuit for a refrigerant, a sec,- ondary circuit for a cooling medium to cool each unit during the absorbing period, said secondary circuit including a cooling vessel, a condenser,

and pipe connections permitting the cooling medium to circulate through said vessel and condenser, a common switching device controlling the supply of heat to respective boiler absorbers and controlling also the circulation of cooling medium in the secondary circuit, said switching device being operable to stop the circulation of cooling medium in the secondary circuit to each unit at the same time as it starts the supply of heat to the boiler absorber of that unit, and means for trapping a portion of the liquid cooling medium circulated in the secondary circuit during the initial part of the absorbing period and for holding-this liquid out of circulation during the rest of the absorbing period.

5. A refrigerator of the type described, comprising aplurality of intermittently functioning units, each unit including a boiler absorber, a condenser and an evaporator coupled together to form a primary circuit for a refrigerant, each unit having a secondary cooling system including a cooling element in heat exchanging relationship with the boiler absorber, a condenser, and pipe connections permitting cooling medium to circulate through said cooling element and condenser, a common switching device control-" um, said collector tank having an overflow opening for delivering a portion of said condensate cooling medium to the cooling element, said collector tank being eflective to trap a portion of the cooling medium which circulates in the seccndary system during the initial part of the absorbing period of the associated boiler absorber and to hold such trapped medium out of circulation during the remainder of said absorbing period.

NILS ERLAND A! KLEEN. 

